More than two decades after their 1986 Top Ten Hit single, “I Can’t Wait,” took the world by storm, NU SHOOZ returns with a new album, “Pandora’s Box”, and a 10 piece orchestra Gil Evans would have loved. Formed in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 1979, their line-up has changed over time, but in all its various forms, they’ve always pushed the boundaries between pop, funk, and jazz. Now, with the release of Pandora’s Box, Portland’s favorite soul explorers take one giant leap for mankind with a brave new sound, combining their signature brand of funk with elements borrowed from Film Noir, ‘60s Spy Movies and even Tarzan.
Yes, Tarzan.
Lyrical and dreamlike, playful and sublime, PANDORA’S BOX is the latest stop in the continuing journeys of band leaders Valerie Day and John Smith. The NU SHOOZ Orchestra is our experimental music laboratory,” Day says, “and John the mad scientist of beats and chords.” This latest addition to the NU SHOOZ sonic landscape features nine new songs, along with remakes of three SHOOZ classics from the band’s 1986 Gold Record “Poolside:” an all-grown-up funky version of the Billboard Top 40 hit “Point of No Return,” a laid back “Driftin’” and a jazzy 20th-anniversary version of the band’s #3 Billboard hit “ I Can’t Wait.”
Since the ‘80s Day and Smith have both had unique and varied experiences. Day has been performing and recording jazz (www.valeriedaysings.com), and created “Brain Chemistry For Lovers”, a combination concert, cabaret and science lecture that explores the neuroscience of Romantic Love (www.brainchemistryforlovers.com). Smith has been a composer and arranger - scoring indie films and hundreds of commercials (www.malcocreative.com).
NU SHOOZ was nominated for a “Best New Artist” Grammy award in 1987 and earned a Gold Record for the album “Poolside.” Their breakthrough hit, “I Can’t Wait” continues to be played on radio stations around the globe every 11 minutes. The band has been featured on MTV, VH1, and classic music programs like American Bandstand, Solid Gold, and the UK’s Top of the Pops. They’ve toured with some of the biggest names in show business, including Tina Turner, Billy Ocean, and the Pointer Sisters.
And the journey continues…
The NU SHOOZ ORCHESTRA is:
Valerie Day –Vocals, Congas, percussion
John Smith- Guitar, Piano, Hammond B-3
Drew Shoals- Drums
Dennis Caiazza- Bass
Mike Horsfall- Vibes, Keys
Tim Jensen- Woodwinds
Paul Mazzio- Trumpet And Flugelhorn
Lars Campbell- Trombone
Justin Kagan- Cello
Skip Von Kuske- Cello
Additional Musicians: Michael Beach, Da’Mone Batease, Dave Captein, Tom Cheek, Julie L. Coleman, Rich Cooper, Shannon Day, China Forbes, Gary Hobbs, Sean Holmes, Alpha Lang, Chris Mayther, Megan Moran, Una O’Riordan, Curtis Salgado, Ross Seligman, Chan Tan, Gregg Williams
“The music I desire must be supple enough to adapt itself to lyrical effusions of the soul and the fantasy of dreams.” Claude Debussy
PRODUCED BY GREGG WILLIAMS
WRITTEN AND ARRANGED BY JOHN SMITH
MIXED BY DAVE FRIEDLANDER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: VALERIE DAY
ALBUM COVER ART: LUKE FELDMAN
Recorded by Gregg Williams @ POOLSIDE and THE TRENCH, Portland, Oregon, Mastered by: Tony Lash @ SUPER DIGITAL, Portland Oregon
Music Copyist: Tom Cheek
Thanks; D. Hamilton, Malcolm Smith, Lance Limbocker at Downstream Sound, Greg Lee, Kevin Welch and All Shooz Past, Present, And Future.
This album is dedicated to Fritz Richmond.
ALL SONGS COPYRIGHT ©2006 by JOHN R. SMITH except ‘Point of No Return’ ©1985 John Smith and Valerie Day, ‘I Can’t Wait’ ©1984 John Smith, “Driftin’” © 1987 John Smith, ‘Charade’ ©1963 by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini, and ‘Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most’ ©1955 by Wolf/Landesman
ALL SONGS PUBLISHED BY MALCO CREATIVE/BMI
“Everything you’ve ever heard comes out in what you play.” Keith Richards
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